HANSOM THE SEAT OF POWER

摘要

The interior decor of Number 10 (lots of chintz and eighties uplighters, as you'd expect) might have offended the sensibilities of many of his design-sensitive audience, but the message Gordon Brown delivered at a reception in Downing Street to mark the RIBA's 175th anniversary couldn't have gone down better. "British design and architecture are second to none," he swooned, as he thanked the profession umpteen times in five minutes for creating a cleaner and greener environment. The prime minster also had time for a bit of self-deprecating humour which won him some fans from the 150-strong audience, comprised mostly of mostly architects, plus a few construction hangers-on like Richard Steer. "Hope the wine's okay - I brought with me from the Treasury and you know what their reputation is like".